Canadian Film Weekly (Mar 25, 1942)

VOIGE of the

CANADIAN MOTION PICTURE

INDUSTRY

Vol. 8, No. 138.

Sidney R. Kent,
Fox Head, Dies

Sidney R. Kent, 56, president of
20th Century-Fox Film .Corpora-
tion, died at his home on Thurs-
day, March 19th, of a heart attack.

The movie .executive had been
ill of heart. disease for five years,
but recently had been considered
in a greatly improved condition.
Two weeks ago he went to Chicago
to attend a company convention.
One of the highest paid executives
in the movies, Kent joined Fox

(Continued on Page 3)

@ Hollywood Buys
~ Many Stories

Hollywood is going ahead with
plans for the future, perhaps with
a thought to the days that will
follow the war. The possibility of
restricted productions is not af-
fecting the buying of story materi-
al. In February motion picture
producers bought 65 stories, most
of which
material. This amount represents
an increase of 25 over the pre-
vious month and is 10 more than
were purchased during the same

(Continued on Page 3) - -

Managerial Changes

William Cupples, assistant man-
ager under W. J. Payne at the
Granada, St. Thomas, replaces
Max Phillips as: manager of the
Grand, Surbury. Phillips goes to
the Regent, Sudbury, filling the
spot left vacant when Vernon
Bunns joined the RCAF.

Ray Massey East
Raymond Massey, returns East
m about a week on completion of
s role in “Desperate Journey”

= at the Warner Bros. studios. He

also appears in

They Live.”

“Dangerously

"JUNGLE BOOK’
FOR EASTER WEEK

are comedy and war],

TORONTO, MARCH 25th, 1942

Mason re Position of Maritimes

‘Settle All Differences Among

Ourselves,’ Suggests Showman

A. J. Mason, Maritimes Independent exhibitor who is
prominent in the Canadian Industry, provides some inter-
esting comment on conditions in the Maritimes and the state
of inter-Industry relationships in a letter to the Canadian
————————————————————

How Not To
Get Thinas Done
One must have common

sense about maximums and
minimums in these days. Have
a laugh on the subject.

Two men were standing be-
side a car trapped in a ditch.
A lady with a Pomeranian
hanced by.

“Would you lend us your
dog, madam?” asked one fel-
low. “We'd like him to haul
our auto out.”

“But,” asked the amazed
lady, “how can a little dog like
that—?”

“That’s all right, interrupt-
ed the motorist, “we’ve got
plenty of whips!”

Fonda as O. Henry

Borros Morros, may take “The
Life of O..Henry” to 20th Century-
Fox for. production when he fin-
ishes “Manhattan Melodrama” .at
Paramount. Morros thinks a lot

of Henry Fonda to play .the role} |

of America’s most famed short
story writer, who had a colorful
life. ;

Release Date Set
April 1 has béen set as the Am-

erican release date of ‘Tower of];

Terror,” Associated British picture
recently secured for American dis-
tribution by Monogram. The pic-
ture deals with the activities of
British secret agents in Germany
during the present war and stars
Movita and Wilfrid Lawson.

Film Weekly. The veteran
showman recently returned
from the Toronto conferences
which led to the formation of
a National Advisory Council
to assist the Theatre and Film
Section of the Wartime Prices and
Trade Board.

Mr. Mason’s letter follows:

“To give you the low-down on
Motion Picture affairs in the Mari-
times as suggested by you would
indeed fill one or two pages of
your valued weekly publication,
and while it may be very interest-
ing reading to some Exhibitors in
other provinces, I am afraid it
would be rather annoying to other

(Continued on Page 2)

—
Bul ABBOTT :
(ecostetto”

VEE tap

‘

$2.00 Per Annum

Studios Pool
Against Air Raids

Co-operation will supplant com-
petition comes an air raid on a
film studio, the Association of
Motion Pictures Producers an-
nounced at its last meeting.

This film makers organization
has put forth a plan which pro-
vides for the pooling of equipment.
in the eventuality of bomb dam-
age to a member’s premises, there-
by assuring comparatively unin-
terrupted. motion picture produc-
tion, which President Roosevelt

(Continued on Page 2)

Mitchell in RCAF

Jim Mitchell, assistant manager
of the’ Capitol, Kingston, was
granted leave of absence from
Famous Players to enlist in the
RCAF.

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Stuart Gillespie, wide-awake manager of the Marks Theatre,

Oshawa, and his projectionist turned out this eye-intriguing dis-
play of scale models for a complete airport. To give this window
display life a small plane kept flying around it. Gillespie is on the

right.

United Artists Technicolor special, “Jungle Book,” starring Sabu and based on
Rudyard Kipling’s famed ‘tale, will get its Canadian release on April $rd. The American

release is at the same time.

Page 2
Vol. 8, No. 13. March’ 25th,

y elaa Weechell _JHXE_BOSSIN, Managing Editor\

: Adress all communications to-~The ‘Mana fanaging Ei oe
~ Canadian Film Weekly, 21 Dundas’ Square, _7

Published by Film Publications of Canada, Ltd:, 5th FJoor,
Toronto, Ont., Canada. Phone ADelaide 4310. Price 5 cents each or

le sah ns Si Square,
$2,00 per year.

Pay
‘

Checking the Valve |

If the United States follows Canada’s example and intro-
duces price and wage freezing, the motion picture industry
will provide an interesting study. It is known that the President
is considering a price ceiling but so far any moves in that
direction have exempted motion pictures.

The thorniest side of the Maximum Prices Regulations here
is that which bears on the relationship between distributor
and exhibitor. Though there has been comparative quiet and
ready adjustment, both sides can show you how the Regula-
tions work against them.

Film distribution in Canada is an importing and not a
manufacturing business. In the States it’s a manufacturing and
exporting business. Over here we are concerned with picture
charges and not costs. The USA government, if it should wish
to freeze prices, would examine three sections of the business
before issuing rulings—production, distribution and exhibition
—instead of the last two, as is the case here.

At least, we think Washington would do that. It seems
the normal way. And Washington's findings would have a pow-
erful effect on Canada’s film business.

This Makes Sense

American film executives are sensing the possibility of
restrictive rulings in everything from censorship to prices. Mr.
W. R. Wilkerson of the Hollywood Reporter, who gets things
right from the horse’s mouth, wrote some pointed words recent-
ly about costs and charges in the USA.

He refers to the raising of prices for magazines, then goes
on to say:

“In the days when a star was highly publicized for earn-
ing $1,500 each week; when the best director was not drawing
as much; when a great story or play could not garner better
than $35,000 for its sale; when capable stock players received
a top of $100 a week, and when fine supporting artists were
lucky to draw $250 each Wednesday, tickets were being sold
in the nation’s theatres for as high as $1.10 and $1.65. And
the average price for all the better houses in densely populated
sectors averaged better than 44 cents. But now that the cost
of production has increased easily 300 per cent, the big the-
atres are even hesitant about a 75-cent ticket price, and the
overall average is less than 30 cents. Why?

“It's true that the picture business is in a good day-to-day
financial position, but a few weeks of bad business, a general
slump, what with the current overheads, would bankrupt the
whole industry because it has no cushion for--any’ financial
reverse. But it could and would with a general jump in ices
the public would easily understand.” : ee

There are signs of disturbance in every section of the
American film front. It may not be long before the harness
donned by the Canadian industry at the government’ s request
may not fit at all. ; Kee

Canadian FILM. WEEKLY

‘Mason Reviews

(Continued ‘from’ Page 1)
sections of our great industry.

“Theatre business in the Mari-
times has enjoyed excellent pat-
ronage generally during the past
year, although there are many
spots where 1941 business was not
as encouraging as it was in 1940.
I refer to towns where there has
been a large enlistment of young
men and women into the armed
forces of the Dominion, with a
corresponding lack of increased
war industry in those particular
towns. No doubt this condition ex-
ists in many other sections of the
Dominion.

“IT suppose you would like to
have some knowledge of the reac-
tion of Maritime Exhibitors to the
recent governmental action in the
matter of Price Control. While I
am unable to speak with authority
for all Maritime Exhibitors, I can
perhaps speak for a few of them.

‘Independent Exhibitors in the
Maritimes are traditionally law
abiding citizens who do not antici-
pate or go looking for trouble. In
fact, they have suffered silently
the many setbacks they have re-
ceived during the past years. It
took considerable courage because
of unjust treatment in the matter
of trade practices to bring about
that appeal to the Provincial Gov-
ernment three or four years ago,
and which resulted in the forma-
tion of a Nova Scotia Conciliation
Board, representative of all
branches of our industry. While
the Conciliation Board was fairly
successful in many ways, yet re-
commendations made by the Con-
ciliation Board for certain changes
and adjustments in connection
with unfair trade practices have
not been successfully carried out
by certain distributor interests.

“This fall a number of Indepen-
dents formed a buying and book-
ing association, and the unfair
treatment our organization and
particularly certain individual
members have received from some
local Distributor interests is as-
tonishing. It even smells of collec-
tive and determined belligerency
on their part to prevent our Asso-
ciation from functioning success-
fully by making most unreasonable
demands. Whether they were actu-
ally acting upon the advice of
their superiors or not is hard to
define, yet after personal contact
with some of the Toronto General
Managers I am inclined to believe
otherwise. I venture to suggest,
that unless there is a very definite
change in the attitude of local ex-
change representatives toward our
organization we may be forced
very reluctantly to appeal for re-
lief to the recently appointed Con-
trol Board.

“At the Toronto meetings there
appeared to be grave concern by
some Chaifi‘and Distributor inter-

March 25th, 1942

Studios: Pool -

Industry Situation. Against Air Raids

(Continued from Page 1) ~
has deemed so essential for .the
maintenance of public morale.

Due to the wide geographica
spread of the studios it is felt only
the most thorough blitz would be
likely to affect more than one
plant at a time.

Cognizance also was taken of
the availability of a number of
rental studios to which the com-
panies owning their own plants
could move in case of emergency.

Meanwhile, two representatives
of the War Production Board are
here from Washington making the
rounds of studios interviewing
technicians with a view to discov-
ering technical talent qualified to
assist the WPB in devising meth-
ods of breaking bottlenecks in
various branches of arms manu-
facture. A checkup of studio tool
equipment, machinery and mecha-
nical devices also is being made.

Resourcefulness of studio tech-
nicians in fabricating a wide va-
riety of intricate mechanisms for
screen purposes prompted the
FPB to send the representatives.

ests because of the Government’s
determination to command control
of this industry during the war.
“The expression of thoughts and
opinions of representative inter-
ests were, that all branches of this
industry should work and live to-
gether harmoniously; that we set-
tle all differences among ourselves
and not through the Price Board.
If all Chain and Distributor inter-
ests were sufficiently sincere to put
into practice what they preach, all
may be well within the industry.
“Tf through Government control
the much abused Independent Ex-
hibitor can secure the relief he
sorely needs; if through the Con-
trol Board a fair and equitable
Live and Let Live existence can
be secured by the Independent Ex-
hibitor, that is the place for him
to go in order to get it, because
past experience through many
years of oppression has proven
conclusively that Distributors and
Chains alike have developed pow-
erful monopolistic institutions at

the expense of the Independent_

Exhibitor. «~

“Again. I say, Distributors and
Chains can, if they so desire, still
keep that much desired and hoped
for unity within this industry, but
actions speak louder than mere
words.”

Complete Theatre Equipment
and Supplies

COLEMAN

ELECTRIC CO.
258 VICTORIA ST.,
Toronto, Ont.

%

March 25th, 1942

Sidney R. Kent,
Fox Head, Dies

(Continued from Page 1)
Film Corporation as vice president
10 years ago after serving 14 years

“= with Paramount Pictures as vice

president and distribution mana-
ger. A month later he was made
head of the reorganized company,
then in financial difficulties.

In 1935 Fox merged with 20th
Century, and Kent became its
head, one of the biggest units in
the entertainment industry.

He was also a director of Madi-
son Square Garden and of the Co-
lumbia Broadcasting System.

A native of Nebraska, he went
to work at the age of 14 in a
greenhouse, which paid $5 a week.
A few years later he joined six en-
gineers of the Colorado Fuel and
Iron Co. in exploring industrial
possibilities in .Wyoming.

Kent joined the American Drug-
gists’ Syndicate in 1912 and three
years later was virtually in charge.

Then an enthusiastic friend in-
terested him in the growing movie
industry. Kent moved into the
Vitagraph Corp.

He was primarily a salesman
and financial manager. When the

old General Films Corp. was in-
pes dicted under the Sherman Anti-
Zz

Trust Act and had judgments of
more than $25,000,000 against it,
Kent was hired to straighten the
tangle. He did the job, then walked
into the office of Adolph Zukor and
told him he was willing to work
for nothing and take his chances
of making good. He thus rose to
the top of Famous Players-Lasky
and then Paramount-Publix Cor-
porations.

When he switched to Fox his
record was one of constant suc-
cess in persuading creditors that
they had more to gain by having
confidence in the movie industry
than by foreclosing.

Will H. Hays, president of the
Motion Picture Producers and Dis-
tributors of America, said:

“The death of Sidney Kent is a
public loss and a personal grief.
Others must continue his work,
but no one can take his place. He
was immensely loyal in friendship,
wise and upright in business and a
great Amercian. Always he retain-
ed qualities of the solid strength
of the Midwest, where he was

.;born, and of the invigoration of
Wyoming, where he spent his early

~~ life. In that pioneer country men

built their own roads and, later in
life, no one did more than Sidney
Kent to build the road by which
the motion picture industry has
reached its present heights. His
personality and achievements form
a lasting monument.”

The Battle of Stratford

Canadian FILM WEEKLY
on . on Sa m, a Se 8

“ >

Be {onthe Squar

Theatre managers bent on promotion ask big things and do
big things. When things work out well they’re something for the
town to remember. When things go wrong it’s usually far from a
minor matter. Not just the patrons are put out but civic dignitar-
ies as well.

Take the case of Walter Helm, the roly-poly manager of the
Avon, Stratford. Walter had “Sergeant York” and decided to get
in some high-class promotional licks. He invited the lads of the
Perth Regiment Reserve Force to the first showing. And created
a military problem.

Up came the worst storm of many a year. The soldier lads
braved it and staged one of their best parades to the theatre. They
got in all right, enjoyed the show and got out all right. But they
didn’t get home.

You see, many of the men came from nearby towns for the
event. When they hit the street the storm was worse than ever.
The outlanders got as far as_ the city limits in their cars before
they surrendered to the storm and turned back. After a struggle
they reached the Stratford Armouries. There were 40 of them.

It looked as though Walter might have to take care of his
guests by opening the theatre overnight and calling on the Ladies
Aid for coffee and sandwiches. But Regimental Quartermaster Ser-
geant Harry Davenport got permission from Lieutenant-Colonel
Rice to put the boys up in the Armouries. The Officers’ Mess took
care of some and the YMCA the rest.

Don’t think for a2 moment that Walter was caught with his
stance down. Those well-upholstered fellows are hard to faze. We
hear that Walter intends taking up the study of Quartermastering
—or whatever you call it—as part of his job.

The Bowowery

Frank Meyers of EBA felt pretty blue the other day when a
long-time pal passed away—his famed thoroughbred Pekinese,
Chang. Frank’s aristocratic pooch had reached the end of the
canine trail, being 15 years old. Chang, says Frank, lived grace-
fully and died peacefully. . . . Another sorrowful note in the mat-
ter of a-man-and-his-dog doings comes with the news of
the death of Win Barron’s aged champion police dog, Wales, who
was also 15. Wales and the Paramount press man have travelled
around the world together twice. The dog, who was inseparable
from Win in the public eye and mind, was ill for a few days be-
fore he started out for the Valhalla of Dogdom. Win’s four little
girls were very fond of Wales and took his illness to heart. One
of them, during her pre-bedtime prayers, was heard to say:
“Please, God, if it’s all right with you, we’d like to have Wales
for a while yet.”

Probably the best-known dog in the local film trade is Sam
Bloom’s Doberman-Pinscher, a gift from J. J. Fitzgibbons. Sam’s
pal has a great loyalty to him and a fierce antipathy to outsiders.
So many a funny tale is heard about it and the best of these come
from Sam, who considers no gathering perfect without one tale of
the capers of his canine partner.

The Latest Step

The biggest audience laugh in the new Russian reels called
‘Defence of Moscow” comes with a shot of captured Nazis. Half-
frozen, the pathetic creatures are hopping up and down in the
snow. ‘

“This,” cracks the announcer, “is what Moscow did to the
Nazi Goose Step!”

Will-o’-the-Whispers

Pat Drohan visited his soldier son on Niagara-on-the-Lake the
other Sunday. The lad is a sergeant. Pat also has a boy in the
RCAF. .. . Incidentally, the projected club of film folk in the
Chatham area, in which Pat and Harland Rankin were interested,
has faded out. . . . Abe Wilkes is looking at the world through
One paper these days. An irksome sty led to a patch. Can’t drive
his car and hasn’t found his legs yet. So if you notice any loco-
motion on his part, don’t get the wrong idea ... Universal spread
the glory of St. Patrick On the Square when the 17th came along.
Handed out lapél harps with a sprig o’ green attached and such
famed Irishman as Raoul Auérbach sported them.

4

Page 3

{Hollywood Buys

Many Stories

(Continued from Page 1)
period last year.

With 40 books and plays ac-
quired in January, the year’s total
has already reached the 105 fig-
ure.

The outstanding buys were
“Let’s Face It,” the current Broad-
way musical hit; ‘‘Dragon Seed,”
Pearl S. Buck’s best seller, and
“The American Way,” the Kauf-
man-Hart success of three sea-
sons back. A total of $430,000 was
paid for the above mentioned
purchases; $225,000 for “Let’s
Face It,’’ $100,000 for “The Amer-
ican Way,” and $105,000 for
“Dragon Seed.”

Neither so expensive nor so
popular, but which rank high in
quality, are Somerset Maugham’s
“Moon and Sixpence,” and W. C.
Clark’s “The Oxbow Incident,”
two February acquisitions.

It was just announced that Uni-
versal Pictures has acquired the
the screen rights to the complete
Sherlock Holmes stories, and film
them as a series with Basil Rath-
bone and Nigel Bruce portraying
the Holmes-Watson roles.

If it is of any encouragement
to the would-be-screen writers,
statistics show that 40 of Febru-
ary’s stories were unpublished
originals. A word of discourage-
ment: Most of the authors are
well-known motion picture or
magazine writers.

Claims Single Name
Helps War Effort

Jinx Falkenburg, 23, actress and
model, wants to be known legally
only by her first name because
elimination of the last from the-
ater marquee lights would save
power for war production.

Jinx and her attorney, S. S.
Hahn, appeared yesterday before
Judge Emmet H. Wilson for a
hearing. Hahn tried to explain.

He said enough electrical power
could be saved by eliminating Fal-
kenburg from theater marquees to
produce 26,000 pounds of alumi-
num or supply electricity for a
city of 105,000.

“Mr. Hahn, Wilson asked, “did
you ever hear of a person who had
one name legally?”

Hahn admitted he had not.

“Well,” the Judge said, “if you
can find any precedent in legal

history, I wish you would present
it to me.”

Rooney's Next

MGM is preparing to go to
work on “A Yank at Eton,”
Mickey Rooney’s next _ starrer.
Norman Taurog will direct and
John W. Considine will produce.

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March 25th, 1942

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United Artists
BROOKLYN ORCHID

Payoff: A streamliner well-mounted and peppered with
laughs. No names.

Story: William Bendix and Joe Sawyer are lowlifes in society
whose female connections feud over status. The boys get jam-
med up when a girl whose life they save indulges in friendly
blackmail.

Sizeup: This one falls short of previous Hal Roach stream-
liners. These were intended for shorter features but when they
limp they seem like extended two-reelers—particularly when
short of developments. Marjorie Woodsworth, old-timer Skeets
Gallagher and Grace Bradley are on hand. This is William Ben-

dix’ first film role and his fresh personality gives things a lift. |

He’s good.
Fox

CASTLE IN THE DESERT

Payoff: Charlie Chan’s swan song, sung in a doubtful voice.

Story: The castle is the creepy home of g millionaire stucl
in the middle of the desert and full of torture stuff. A guest is
murdered and Charlie does the honors.

Sizeup:, The Chans still do business and this one should
attract the fans. Sydney Toler, Arleen Whelan, Douglas Dum-
brille and Lucian Littlefield are prominent.

CONFIRM OR DENY

Payoff: Name attractions such as Don Ameche, Roddy Mc-
Dowell and Joan Bennett. Realistic London background and at-
mosphere, thrills. H

Story: Shy on plot. Ameche is an American press chief
whose first loyalty is to his company. He wants to crack a scoop
about the coming invasion and the conflict arises from the oppo-
sition of Miss Bennett, the love interest, whose first loyalty is
to the Ministry of Information.

Sizeup: Ameche’s animated delivery and the falling bombs
give it action and keep it interesting. Roddy McDowell, who die:
on duty, gives it pathos. Miss Bennett gives it love, Raymon
Walburn and Eric Blore give it comedy, Arthur Shields, as thc
blind employee, gives it sentiment and John Loder provides the
unyielding Britisher angle. A good topper.

Republic

SLEEPYTIME GAL

Payoff: Rompy comedy sewed together with music that
brings howls in spots and keeps up a steady stream of snickers
and chuckles.

Story: The unglamorous Judy Canova is a kitchen maid
with curdling vocal cords. Skinnay Ennis is a band leader with
a contest on for a female vocalist. Miss Canova is the hope of
the kitchen mechanics as well as Tom Brown and Mildred Coles,
who want to get married on their share in Canova’s success. A
gangster has a gal whom he wants to win and muscles the band
leader into that decision. Canova poses as the gal. There are
more angles.

Size-up: It’s somewhat plotty but much of that gets lost in
general uproar. It’s fast and consistently funny. Billy Gilbert,
Jerry Lester and Elisha Cook, Jr., the latter as an imaginative
murderer with a Rube Goldberg mind, keep it hopping.

LADY FOR A NIGHT

Payoff: A Republic special. Old South background, both sides
of the track. It’s leisurely but pleasant and has such good players
as Joan Blondell, John Wayne, Leonid Kinsky, Philip Merivale,
Ray Middleton, Edith Barrett and Blanche Yurka. And the Hall
Johnson Choir.

Story: Miss Blondell is a waterfront’ wench whose desire to
go social causes her to give up her share of a gambling house to
partner John Wayne and marry Ray Middleton by applying
pressure. Accused of murdering him, she gets wise to herself
and goes back to Wayne. ;

Sizeup: Nothing to add.

Canadian FILM WEEKLY

Page 5

Paramount

THE FLEET’S IN

Payoff: This is a nautical vaudeville show of strong names
or funny routines. Very good comedy and very good music.

Story: The idea is simple. Dorothy Lamour is a hard-to-
make hostess and William Holden is a knock-’em-over sailor. The
fleet bets on the amour champ against Lamour. He wins her after
much shilly-shallying.

Sizeup: The picture should attract plenty of patronage.
Jimmy Dorsey and his music should bring in the J-B’s and the
general word-of-mouth about the ample howls will do the rest.
Eddie Bracken, Cass Daley, Betty Hutton and Lief Erickson join
the general fun. There are quite a few musical numbers.

New York Revivals

Alexanders Ragtime Band—1938
musical drama; T. Power, A. Faye,
D. Ameche.

Arise My Love—1940 farce com-
edy; Colbert, R. Milland.
Carnival in Flanders—1936 French
film, Eng. subtitles; Jean Murat,
Francoise Rosay.

Jezebel—1938 costume melodrama;
B. Davis, H. Fonda..

Kid Galahad—1937 melodrama; B.
Davis, E. G. Robinson.

Letter, The—1940 drama; B. Dav-
is, J.. Stephenson, H. Marshall.
Metropolitan—1935 operatic film;
Tibbett.

Dark Journey—1937 spy melodra- Mortal Storm—1940 -drama; from

ma; C. Veidt, V. Leigh.

P. Bottome’s novel; M. Sullivan,

Five Came Back—1939 melodra-' J- Stewart.

ma;-C. Morris, L. Ball; J. Calleia.

Four Sons—1940 tragedy; Ameche,
A. Curtis, E. Leontovich.

Great McGinty—1940 satirical co-
medy; B. Donlevy.

He Stayed for Breakfast—1940 sa-
tire; M. Douglas, L. Young.

His Girl Friday—1940 comedy; C.
Grant, R. Russell.

If You Could Only Cook — 1936
comedy; J. Arthur, H. Marshall.

Columbia Film Stars
Crawford & Douglas

First of the principal support-
‘ng roles for Columbia’s important
new comedy, “He Kissed the
Bride,” co-starring Joan Crawford
and Melvyn Douglas, have been
assigned by director Alexander
Hall to Billie Burke and Roland
Young. Miss Burke will play the
part of Miss Crawford’s mother,
and Roland that of her attorney.
Helen Parrish, well known young
feature player draws the impor-
tant role of Miss Crawford’s youn-
ger sister. ‘‘He Kissed The Bride”
is the first picture on the schedule
of Edward Kaufman, who recent-
ly signed with Columbia as a
producer.

Bonus Short

Asscciated Screen News has
turned out a short for the Na-
tional Film Board showing under
what conditions a cost of living
bonus is payable.

Northwest. Passage—1940 techni-
color adventure tale; S. Tracy, R.
Young, W. Brennan.

Perfect Specimen—1937 comedy;
E. Flynn, J. Blondell.

Ruggles of Red Gap—i1935 com-
edy; M. Boland, C. Ruggles, C.
Laughton.

Scarlet Pimpernel—1935 costume
drama; M. Oberon, L. Howard.
Slight Case of Murder—1938 sa-
tire on ex-racketeer; E. G. Robin-
son,

Submarine D-1—1937 drama;
Brent, P. O’Brien.

Three on a Weekend—1938 com-
edy-drama; M.* Lockwood, J.
Lodge.

G.

New Models
New Prices

C. T. R.

Sound
Equipment

PERXGNS

COMPANY LIMITED
277 VICTORIA STREET 2027 BLEURY STREGT
TORONTO MONTREAL

Page 6

RNIE WARREN, Midtown, To-

ronto, did a bangup exploita: |

tion job on “You're in the Army
Now.”

Working through the District
Recruiting Headquarters, he ar-
ranged many tieups. Highteen re-
cruiting stations were bannered,
including the main station at the
City Hall. Two bands were pro-
moted on different days. They
played several numbers out front
and finished with ‘‘You’re in the
Army Now.”

For three days the show got
yadio comment over CFRB and
CKCL. An army weekly with a
5,00C circulation carried copy. All
men enlisting during the run were
offered passes.

The Liberty radio show gave it
a grand plug and all Ontario News
Agency trucks carried banners.
The theatre displayed covers of
three magazines handled by the
agency which featured Jane Wy-
man, star of the picture.

Found space on all cafe menus
in the district with copy on the
Midtown ‘screen menu.” The daily
paper critics reviewed the picture
as a first run. There were scene
cuts, readers, placards, lobby dis-
play, big and patriotic front, stage
neon letters and other good ideas.

It wound up a big week at the
boxoffice.

nt ok *
RED THOMPSON, of the Rex,
London, for Kay Kyser’s pic-
ture “You'll Find Out,” used a
P.A. System outside the theatre
plugging several of Kay’s songs.
Fred received plenty of favorable
comment on same.
* es a
pa police of Orillia held a ben-
efit game, giving the proceeds
to the Salvation Army. Les Vic-
ary of the Opera House in Orillia,
hot on: the ‘trail, had the -presenta-
tion of the cheque for $816.54
made from his stage on’ Friday
night, thereby booSting. .business
considerably.
* cd =

HARLIE SMITH of the Royal

4 in Sudbury, on “Trail of the
Lonesome Pine,” had a™pine tree’
mounted on top of the marquee
with copy alongside on special dis-
play boards. Threw a spotlight on
it at night. For “The Great
Waltz,” he had window tie ups
with music stores and florists in
the downtown ‘shopping area.
Phone calls to the schools and
music teachers stressing the mu-
sic angle, Fifteen minute radio
program featuring music from the
picture. Nice work, Charlie.

* * te

OB MARTIN of the Cinema,

Toronto, held a ‘Ghost Week.”
He had a walking bally out front
picketing. Special cobweb effects
in front display cases, with blue
lighting effect. A cutout of a
house with three floors carrying
horror copy (“Stranger on the
Third Floor.’’)

id

=o

a ¢

re

1 is very funny how a change
comes over so many theatre
managers after a period of time.
When a man is new he asks how
to do this, and if he can do that,
everything he does is to show pro-
gress. On the other hand, a lot of
fellows, after a few or more years,
claim they cannot do this and are
not allowed to do that. Why this
transformation? When a fellow,
after a number of years of work-
ing in a theatre, achieves what he
believes is his goal, that of a man-
ager, he should realize that he has
only started to work. I remember
not long ago a speaker who, in
talking to a Graduation class,
when giving out the diplomas,
said: “This sheepskin proves
nothing except that you have the
right to practice as a lawyer, but
it does not make you a good law-
yer or a poor lawyer. That de-
pends on you!” And so with the
theatre manager. He is only a good
manager if he works. His position
alone is not sufficient for him to
be called a “Theatre Manager.”
e be =
T last we hear from our old-
timer Jack Alexander of the
Brock Theatre, Toronto, the “ex-
Bristol Boy Scout.” A Toronto
soldier on leave in Manchester was
asked if he knew Jack Alexander.
On answering yes, the man said:
“Well, he and I were Boy Scouts
together in Bristol!’’ Small world
we call it. (This actually happen-
ed.)

Jack arranged a little show in-
cluding ‘Million Dollar Baby,”
Marx Bros. in “The Big Store,”
along with Bob Hope and Abbott
and Costello single reels. He push-
ed out a few thousand heralds ap-
pealing to the public: “Are You
Sick? Are You Dizzy — Tired —
Lazy — Run down — In Love —
Do You Want To Forget Your
Troubles, etc., etc.,’”’ plugging the
laugh angle.

In the lobby of the theatre he
offered FREE KISSES (candy, of
course) to all male patrons from
“The Million Dollar Baby.” Front
displayed for the event—results
were very good. Nice work, Jack.
Dont’ make it too long until we
hear from you again.

% % a

Bez BEREZIN of the Elgin, Ot-
tawa, is getting co-operative
ads with a large department store,
also having a tie-up with them on
Main St. with window display
cards and lobby tieup. He is hav-
ing a contest with this store next
week. The store is giving away
merchandise credit notes of $15.00,
$10.00 and $5.00, and also taking
care of the advertising, with Bob
contributing a few passes.

Canadian FILM WEEKLY

AX PHILLIPS of the Grand,

Sudbury, used a vacant store
(with permission, of course) right
in the heart of the business dis-
trict. Set up a giant cutout on
“Gunga Din’ two weeks in ad-
vance. Also two 6 sheets with
colorful figure fronts. Posted at-
tractive cards on Mine Bulletin
boards, as well as in the usual lo-
cations, not forgetting the bever-
age rooms, billiard halls and all
gathering places of the miners
Hope you mined the results of
your campaign, Max.

% * *
ARTIN WHITE of the Com-

munity, Welland, on “It’s A
Wonderful World’ had _=e special
cards printed and clipped to
menus in the different restaurants
Martin also played “The Great
Waltz” and found that it still
brings the old ones back into the
theatre, plus many new ones.

Bo s +
EN HERBERT of the Centre
London, entertained 50 of the
local Navy boys who paraded
through the downtown section to
the theatre for a late matinee.
oe = *
Rea TIEDE of the Geneva,

Orillia, had two guinea pigs
put on display in a downtown
store, with card naming them as
Olsen and Johnson, etc., in “Hell-
zapoppin’.” Also special heralds
with Hitler copy in connection
with the same picture.

* % id
Hes another snappy and very
timely idea from Bob Bere-
zin of the Elgin, Ottawa. One
which I’m sure many of the other
managers will be glad to use. Bob
tied up with the Imperial Taxi Co.,
having banners made for their
taxis with the following copy:
“It’s patriotic to save rubber and
gasoline. Ride together and save
in an Imperial taxi to see ‘The
Lady Is Willing’ with Marlene
Dietrich and Fred MacMurray now

at the Elgin Theatre.”

As you know taxis travel all
over town and will advertise in
places where you can’t get cards
or 24 sheets. He also placed a card
in the lobby reading, “For Fast
and Courteous Service call Imper-
ial Taxi. Phone—”

> cd *

OR the feature ‘Ice-capades,”
J. S. Smart of the Capitol in
Port Hope placed two _ sheets
in vulnerable spots at the skating
rink for two of its busiest nights.
He also arranged with the best
lunch room in town to place two
of the programs underneath the
glass at each table. A splendid ap-

petizer, I call it.

a

‘March 26th, 1942

Wenn always giving space to

Harland Rankin of the Cen-
tre, ‘‘Chatham’s Newest and Love-
liest Theatre.”’ And he always de-
serves it. He’s a right lively fel-
low who keeps the ball of public
interest rolling.

This week Harland and his staff
have offered blood donations to
the Red Cross. They issued a spe-
cial bulletin inviting the citizens
to join them in this effort. The
bulletin is sponsored by a style
shop which offers ten per cent off
to customers who join the ranks
of the blood donors and the theatre
is willing to hand out 50 passes to
the first 50 people who make the
same sacrifice.

The work is catching the imagi-
nation of the public and winning
plenty of praise and publicity.

Harlan is preparing warnings
against Fifth Columnists, asking
the people to keep their lips but-
toned on military news, with thea-
tre copy attached.

In the ladies’ rest room he has
established a Gum Depository re-
ceptacle, with a request that it be
used. This novel idea has excited
comment.

In the lobby there is a display
for the Red Cross paper scrap ap-
peal. An easy-saving device is be-
ing demonstrated, the details of
which you can get by writing him.

Opportunity Night, a radio tieup
at which participants are Ziven
watches for prizes, is going strong
and has a large sight as well as
ear audience. It takes the air from
the theatre stage. The listeners
vote by mail for their favorites.
Harlan got 700 letters last week,
many of them petitions with a
list of names attached.

He sure keeps pounding the ball
and getting results. Do likewise.

Fox's ‘Coney Island’

George Montgomery has been
assigned to the male lead in
“Coney Island,” it was announced
by 20th Century-Fox and William
Perlberg is listed as producer of
the film.

III

HEATING AND VENTILATING

CONTRACTORS AND ENGINEERS
“ wee

PA CN TG AE OOO IO TI le

March 25th, 1942

After years of absorbing hun-
dreds of Hollywood productions,
South America has within recent
weeks shipped 37 movies to the
United States to be circulated
throughout the country.

These films, received by the
Rockefeller-Whitney Inter-Ameri-
can Affairs Committee, are pri-
marily slated for educational dis-
tribution. To date, eight of the
South American films have been
edited and will appear under the
following titles:

“Americans All,” a two-reeler
filmed by documentary specialist,
Julian Bryan. This tells the story
of hemispheric civilization; ‘‘South
American Medley,” a _ four-reel

Technicolor travelogue; “Our
Neighbors Down the Road,” a
four-reeler about the new an-
American Highway; ‘Mexican

Fiestas,” a native dance feature;
“Argentine Soil,” a two-reeler des-
cribing Argentine’s natural re-
sources; ‘‘Guatemala Sketchbook,’
a four-reeler of Spanish colonial
culture; ‘‘Orchids,’”’ a one-reeler of
tropical flowers, and two addi-
tional shorts on Mexican and Ar-
gentine politics.

Many of these films were made
with American aid and under Hol-
lywood technical supervision with
the co-operation of a number of
our leading photographers and
directors.

Museums, classrooms and other
public information-dispensing
groups will receive these films
gratis from the Inter-American
Affairs Committee: Mr. Rockefel-
ler’s office counts on these films
to dispel the public’s misconcep-
tion of things Latin American.

The March of Time alone has
prepared three documentary films
on Argentine and Brazil, and in
it’s latest issue, “The Argentina
Question,” the March of Time re-
veals Argentine’s difficulty in cop-
ing with the precariaus interna-
tional situation.

Big Musical Cycle
On the Way

The dazzling grosses coined by
the current crop of musical films,
which can be attributed to the
public preference for light enter-
tainment and its response to the

Ds" bands usually featured in
these films, has won the produc-
ers over to an all-out musical
policy for the coming eason. There
are indications that the number of
musical films will top 50, surpass-
ing even the melody output of the
early ’30’s, the high-water mark
of tune film popularity.

THE NEW YORKER

(Comment in “The Current
Cinema” sub-headed “The War
in Fact and Fiction’’)

Apparently it is not true, as
some had begun to suspect, that
the newsreel people as a group
have walked out on the war and
refused to note any occasion ex-
cept a gathering of celebrities in
high spirits. There comes along
just at this moment, when our
general irritation with the mild
camera work displayed during
this most pictorial of all eras in
history was beginning to sizzle
over in many an outspoken com-
plaint, what is announced as the
first of a series of news pictures
and what is surely an appeasing
and satisfactory antidote to our
impatience. The series promised us
is called “The World in Action”
and, judging by “Churchill’s
Island,” the first shown us — a
twenty-minute compilation of va-
rious shots, including some Ger-
man ones grabbed from their
owners on the way to the German
Embassy here — the cameramen
have been busier than we had
been allowed to suspect. “Church-
ill’s Island” has a thoroughness
about it that makes us believe
that we are being told all. It
shows England’s great defenses,
not alone along the cliffs of Dover
but within the inland towns, along
the downs, and, for that matter,
reaching far out into the spaces
of the Atlantic. Thanks to the
German acquisitions, we also have
a glimpse of the big guns across
the Channel and of the prepara-
tions on that side. The blending
of these varied scenes has been
smoothly managed, making a film
that should not be missed.

NEW YORK TIMES
(Theodore Strauss on the

Twentieth Anniversary of the
Hays Office)

Mr. Hays probably stands mid-
way, as he would be happy to
believe, between the bluenoses
who charge him with having failed
in his “sacred trust” of making
the movies safe for 2-year-olds,
and the other side—the writers,
directors, and “high-hat” public
which says his heavy Presbyterian
hand has made cadavers out of
more than one living artistic mas-
terpiece. But Mr. Hays is not so
interested in masterpieces. He’s
not a cosmopolite or a rube, he is
@ grass-roots American with a
distinctly Main Street outlook.

In all these melees Mr. Hays
sometimes is in the slightly com-
ical position of a man saying
“sh-h” while everyone else screams
his head off. Like a Main Street
politician he comes forth each year
with golden homilies for the in-

Canadian FILM WEEKLY

Cg

NS
Be

'NEW YORK POST

| (Irene Thirer in an article
called “Broadway is Show Win-
dow for Hollywood Film Exhib-
itors’’)

Broadway is the show window
of Hollywood.

It is the exhibitor’s Paradise.
Its very name spells magic as an
exploitation source. Film company
press books, presenting elaborate,
especially prepared campaigns for
the benefit of out of town. theatre
managers, invariably include an
article on “this is the way it was
sold on Broadway.”

Yet, it is amazing that many
movies which have done record
business along the great Neon
Way—looking north from Times
Sq. and east to Sixth Ave.—‘“die”’
in their country-wide distribution.
As Variety, the Broadway Bible,
once quaintly put it in discussing
certain homespun pictures which
had been Broadway sellouts but
hinterland flops, ‘Stix Nix Hix
Pisce

Movies premiered in the Times
Sq. region travel afterward to the
circuits or independent theatres—
many of which are located on
Broadway — upper or lower. A
glorified Main Stem first run is
apt to wind up at the tail end of
a double feature bill when it at-
tains subsequent booking at neigh-
borhood cinema theatres through-
out New York City.

PARADE

(Fred Sparks in the Chicago

Weekly Picture Newspaper)

Ground for divorce: Mrs. Eliza-
beth Day, of Camden, N.J., is no
longer the wife of Reuney Day.
This all came about because Mrs.
Day just got sick and tired of
living up to a set of rules that Mr.
Day laid down for her. Here are
the rules in question:

(1) In a restaurant don’t look
at anybody except me or else
look down at your plate.

(2) Don’t go out alone after
6 p.m. wv

(3) Go shopping only one day
@ week.

(4) Don’t go to motion picture
shows in the afternoon.

dustry and the public alike indi-
cating that this is the best of all
possible worlds. He believes in the
efficacy of platitudes passionately.
But whoever hears the legalistic
rhetoric is apt to underestimate
him. For Mr. Hays has never been
one to win by a spectacular knock-
out. He prefers to win on points.
And when judged by the points he
has won in twenty years few will
deny that he has done fairly well
by a bad job.

eee

Page 7

/ Casting News

From the Lots

Jack Benny to be starred in
“George Washington Slept Here”
at Warner Bros. before he does
“The Widow Would’nt Weep” for
same studio. The “Washington”
script nearest completion, reason
for switch . . . Longtime report
that Gary Cooper will play Rob-
ert Jordan role in ‘For Whom the
Bell Tolls’’ confirmed at Para-
mount ... Jane Wyman borrow-
ed by 20th Century-Fox from
Warner Bros. for top spot in
“Strictly Dynamite’... “The Sun
is My Undoing,” best-selling novel,
bought by MGM as Clark Gahle
feature ... Mickey Rooney’s next
at MGM to be “A Yank at Eton.”
Dennis Morgan given male lead
in Warner Bros.’ “The Hard Way,”
with Ida Lupino, Joan Leslie,
Jack Carson and Gladys George...
William Lundigan wins lead in
MGM's “Apache Trail,’ opposite
Donna Reed . . . Maureen O’Hara
assigned by 20th to act with Ty-
rone Power in “The Black Swan”
Charles Coburn assigned

major role in Warner Bros.’ “‘The
Constant Nymph,” Charles Boyer-
Joan Fontaine starrer ... Eddie
Foy Jr. and Ketty Kean top Re-
public’s musical comedy, ‘Moon-
light Masquerade” Monte
Blue added to cast of Paramount’s
“Road to Morocco.”

CONTRACT
SALES

OFFICE

PHONE TR.1257
GT" FLOOR

“8 Uys Cheat

Jane

Father
Withers -

Withers

knows’ best, Jane
discovers in her new

Another Trio

20th-Fox comedy.

SCARLETT O'HARA'S LIFE WAS TAME
compared to what this stunning spitfire, Paulette Goddard, goes
through in Cecil B. DeMille’s production, “Reap the Wild Wind.”
Besides staging the knock-down-drag-out fight above with Ray Milland
in the super-duper Technicolored thriller, Paulette weathers a
hurricane, gangfights with a dozen husky tars and is thrown
overboard into the sea from the deck of a sailing” ship.

aS

Joe Allen, Jr. can’t make up
his mind. You can’t blame him,
with two honeys like Lynn Bari
and Mary Beth Hughes to pick
from. They’re all together in
20th-Fox’s “The Night Before
the Divorce.”

ie
ne

When Baron Hugo Von Detner, head of
a vast Nazi spy ring in America, attempts
to force his twin brother, Otto Becker, a
kindly, patriotic stamp collector, to join
him in his sinister activities, the latter
accidentally shoots Von Detner. In order
to thwart his brother’s plotting, Otto
shaves off his beard and impersonates him.

7%

IDT IN DRAMATIC DU

As Von Detner, Ofto is now able to tip
off the authorities whenever the plotters
attempt sabotage. Baffled that their plans
fo awry, the saboteurs suspect Kaaren De
Relle (Ann Ayars), a spy whom they be-
lieve fo have turned against them. Otto,
who has grown to love Kaaren, attempts
to protect her from the accusations.

Otto eventually gathers sufficient infor-
mation to round up all the spies whom
the government will deport. He can save
himself only by giving up Kaaren, which
he refuses to do. He sails away, knowing
that the moment he arrives in Germany
his disguise will be penetrated and his

fate sealed—but Kaaren will be safe! @

AL ROLE.